4.5 ⭐️

This is one of my favourite romance books of the year. Kate and Sebastian are tortured, and stubborn, and fated to end up together.

This is grumpy X sunshine with extra grump. And I completely adored it. The small town mixed with the bookish community also completely blew me away. But nothing, nothing compares to the multigenerational love story and the constant parallels- the letters as chapter headers was the most wholesome and endearing touch and I completely loved this.

Everyone needs to read.

I really didn’t want it to end 🥹 I reached the final page and just sat there like noooo, I’m not ready to say goodbye to these characters! 💔. This is my first time reading something by Jackie Ashenden but definitely not the last 🔥.

If you’re into small-town romances with enemies to lovers vibes and the cutest sunshine-grumpy dynamic, you NEED this on your TBR. It’s sweet, heartwarming, cured my reading slump, and gave me all the cozy bookish feels I needed.

The story follows Kate, our little ray of sunshine, who leaves behind her narcissistic ex and busy London life to open her own bookstore in the charming town of Whychtree. Sounds dreamy, right? Except across the street is Sebastian, the grumpiest (but also very handsome) guy who runs a rival bookstore. He seems to be unhappy about Kate’s existence and friendly gestures and even has the audacity to call her books “not literature.” Cue all the banter and tension throughout the book 👀🩷.

What I loved most about this story is how it cleverly ties the past to the present. Turns out, Kate’s great-grandmother (also a Kate) ran a tea shop in the same spot as her bookstore, while Sebastian’s great-grandfather (also a Sebastian) owned his bookshop too.

The only thing I wished for was a little more flashbacks on the great-grandparents’ own love story 🥹. The parallels were so interesting, and I would’ve loved to see more of their old love ❤️.

So, if you’re into sweet romances, slow-burn tension, and small-town charm, this book will absolutely steal your heart (and your time too 🫢).

A book about book lovers, yes please! I was so excited when I saw this title. It sounded like one I would for sure fall in love with. Unfortunately, for me it was really slow. There were some things missing in their relationship to make it better, some parts fell flat for me. I truly thought I would love this one more than I did.

Kate just lost her mother a few years ago and came out of a toxic controlling relationship. Still she was so bubbly, sweet and caring. I really like this FMC alot, the bookshop she opened in the building she inherited from her mother sounds so much fun. I'd love to go there.
On the other side of the road we have Sebastian, this reserved, grumpy young man who also runs a bookstore, but it's a more established up-scale bookshop. Just like Kate, he has also lost his mother. I liked seeing how they coped very differently with their losses and how that affects their characters.
But even though he is a grump, Sebastian really treats Kate the way she needed in order to feel beautiful and wanted again. That's what made me love this MMC as well.
I had so much fun reading their story and getting into the mystery of their family's past, the author really takes you on an adventure in this fun and cute read.

Thanks to Netgalley and Jackie Ashenden for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I had fun with this book, it was easy to read and a good time overall! The grumpy x sunshine trope always hits the mark for me, and this story delivered it perfectly. The characters were so charming—Kate especially stole the show for me. She’s smart, confident, and didn’t take any nonsense, which I absolutely loved.

Sebastian, on the other hand, was... frustrating, to say the least. His whole reasoning for shutting down their relationship—because he thought his ancestors didn’t make their wives happy—was just ridiculous. Like, come on, Sebastian. You’re your own person! Your relationship is your responsibility, not something dictated by family history. I did appreciate how Kate handled it, though. She (mostly) didn’t let him brush her off or get away with his nonsense, especially after their feelings started becoming obvious.

Speaking of feelings, I do enjoy some good pining, but their constant denial of their emotions got a bit old after a while. And why, why, was Sebastian still calling her “Miss Jones” even after they slept together? That was so over the top it pulled me out of the story a little.

All that said, the chemistry between them was great, and the romance kept me hooked despite the bumps along the way. If you’re a fan of this trope and don’t mind a bit of drama, I think you’ll really enjoy this one too!

Very quick and unputdownable rom com! I loved the rivals to lovers bookshop owners trope — a nice pick me up if you're in the mood for a story that makes you feel good and gushy on the inside!

It’s a 3.63 ⭐️. I loved it, but really hated some parts. It’s quite repetitive. The trope is tough to sell, but I’m a sucker for misunderstandings. I know, I know. It’s the worst. But I loved Adam Dr.. erm, I mean Sebastian. Even if he was emotionally constipated. Anyway, thanks NetGalley for this lovely and frustrating book.

An intriguing plot and likeable characters but I found the non-stop profanity too much for my taste.

This was a really sweet enemies to lovers, grumpy x sunshine romance. I loved the small, remote village setting and the two bookshops were everything! I cam imagine curling up with a book in both of them. The plot itself was pretty predictable but I actually didn't care; I was transported into the love story and loved watching it unfold.

The story was too dense, too slow and too predictable. The synopsis I had seen caught my attention and I was hoping it would be a good story, but I found Kate to be too whiny and Sebastian to be dull and obnoxious. I couldnt connect or find them likeable in any way.

4,5 stars, rounded up to 5 stars

This book was an absolute DELIGHT to read!

I fell in love with the little village of Wychtree and its too idyllic, competing book store owners.


Sebastian was Mr. Tall, Dark, and Broody. Now, I have to say, I don't normally like when characters are mean to the other MC, and Sebastian was quite... abrupt? However, it fit his character well and I just got where he was coming from. It also helped that Kate, the FMC, held her own against him, which made their relationship growth work really well. And she was right, he was just being honest - just sharing the thoughts that most people hide behind politeness. I have to give credit to the author, this is one of the best I've seen done in this area.

Also, the brooding and obsessing that Sebastian did over Kate was *chefs kiss*. There's nothing better than when an MMC is head over heels for the FMC.

I also thought that the book festival and the old family letters were a really good way to bring the MCs together. It brought the story together in a way that felt realistic (for the story).

I did feel that the MCs reasons for not accepting that they loved the other, particularly the MMCs, maybe lasted a little too long. But I know the power something like that can hold over a person, so it didn't bother me too much.

The only other thing was that the formatting was wonky. Dialogue from different characters were on the same line (it got confusing sometimes). Multiple words squished together into one word. Spacing inconsistent, etc. The story was good enough for me that I was able to look past it, but I mention it because it might bother others.

Overall, this book just worked for me and was the cute contemporary romance I needed. Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for letting me read this book in exchange for an honest review!

Jackie Ashenden delivers a heartwarming, enemies-to-lovers rom-com in Book People, a must-read for romantics and bibliophiles alike. With its witty banter, layered characters, and small-town charm, this story is a love letter to books, their readers, and the magic of unexpected connections.

The story follows Kate, a spirited newcomer who opens a genre-focused bookstore, and Sebastian, her uptight competitor running a highbrow bookshop across the street. Their professional rivalry heats up as they collaborate on the town’s literary festival, leading to delightful sparring, simmering tension, and a swoon-worthy romance.

This book had a great premise but fell a little flat for me. Both main characters spent entirely too much time obsessed with their baggage. I also felt like they were more in lust than in love. I would have loved more time with them getting to know each other and fall in love out of the bedroom. Really liked the hidden letters aspect.

This book starts off with an intense enemies-to-lovers dynamic, where the protagonists’ animosity almost feels too extreme at times, but it’s this tension that fuels the slow-burn of their relationship. As the story progresses, deep emotions are explored in through the characters’ family ties, which add complexity and depth to the plot. This was an enjoyable read—thank you to Headline and NetGalley for the ARC!

Book People by Jackie Ashenden is a charming and swoon-worthy romance perfect for anyone who adores books, banter, and a bit of spice!

The story follows Kate, a spirited new bookseller with a love for fun and popular fiction, and Sebastian, her uptight, highbrow rival across the street. Their rivalry heats up when they’re forced to work together on the town’s literary festival, and let’s just say sparks fly. Their chemistry is undeniable, and the mix of tension and tenderness makes their journey from rivals to lovers so satisfying.

Ashenden’s writing shines with wit and heart, painting a small-town setting that feels like home and creating characters you can’t help but root for. Kate’s bright, sunshiney energy perfectly balances Sebastian’s gruff, rule-bound demeanor, and watching them clash, connect, and ultimately fall for each other is pure joy.

The book is spicy, but it’s the kind of spice that adds depth to their relationship rather than overshadowing the story. If you’re a fan of enemies-to-lovers and bookish love stories, this one is for you.

Tropes:
📚 Rival bookshop owners
📚 Enemies-to-lovers
📚 Small-town setting
📚 Grumpy-sunshine dynamic
📚 Forced proximity

Book People is a delightful celebration of love, books, and finding someone who sees your quirks as strengths.

Thanks to NetGalley and Headline | Headline Eternal for the opportunity to receive the ARC.

I just finished this adorbs book and let me tell you, it’s totally a vibe! Picture this: a quirky bookseller opens up a cute little shop right across from an ultra fancy bookstore. Total clash of the bookish titans, right? I mean, it’s enemies to lovers at its finest! There's like, so much tension between the two main characters—Kate is all sunshine and bubbly vibes, while Sebastian is, like, this grumpy bookshop owner who’s SO not having it. But, like, obviously things heat up, especially with a little literary mystery that, honestly, I didn’t see coming.

It’s fast-paced, fun, and, like, made my bookish heart skip a beat. The small-town vibes were so cute, and who doesn’t love a good book festival, right? The rivalry was super entertaining and all the bookish references made me feel like I was part of the action. Plus, the mystery element with their family history was a nice little twist.

It does hit a few tropes, but I mean, I’m here for it—give me all the tropes! I loved how Kate’s backstory unraveled, and by the end, I was so team Kate. Sebastian was a little gruff for me, and like, I definitely wasn’t into his whole persona, but it worked for the story.

Overall, super cute, totally bingeable, and the kind of book that will make you want to cozy up with a cup of tea and your own pile of books. So, yeah, 3.5 stars, rounded up because I had a blast reading it!

Big thanks to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion! 📚💖

This book was exactly what I needed. When life is overwhelming, I reach for fluffy, uncomplicated stories that I can escape in and Book People is exactly that. Book People is full of tropes - enemies/rivals to lovers, small town, grumpy/sunshine, forced proximity - but never feels cliché or boring.

The premise is simple - after losing her mother and walking away from a not-great relationship with an ass, Kate decides to live out her lifelong dream of owning a book store. She moves to the small village of Wychtree and sets up shop in the building she inherited from her mother. The only problem? Sebastian, the grumpy, snobbish (hot) bookstore owner directly across the street.

Book People is a fun read that fans of Book Lovers are likely to love. It's not perfect - some of the drama seems a little forced, but then again, I've known men like Sebastian and sometimes they really are as stupid as he can be.

This is the first book that I have read by Jackie Ashenden and as I was reading this novel, I wondered why I haven't read any of her previous books. This book was incredible! The plotline was interesting and kept me entertained - mainly due to the two main characters, Sebastian and Kate. I read this book in one day - I could not put it down. I fell in love with Sebastian - definitely swoon worthy. The cover was too cute as well.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!

Really smooth reading. Got through this pretty quickly.
Nice to see actual layers in this story and it overall flowed so well and overall really enjoyed it.
Love a book themed book.

Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy.
All opinions are my own.

this was so cute! i thorougly enjoyed my reading experience. it was funny, witty and everything i needed in a romcom book. i did manage to connect with the characters since they were really well developed! i love books about books too which made it even more interesting for me. i binged it so quickly and honestly it was the best time lol. also gotta love enemies to lovers. 🫠 it's not my all time favourite book, but if you want a fun and cute time, this one's for you!